shihonage wrote on Jan 19, 2013, 00:29:I watched 3 seasons of The Wire, and couldn't stand it anymore after that. The sedated pacing makes Downton Abbey seem like an action blockbuster. Literally nothing happens for half a season.

It's not an action series. Plenty of things happen, they just don't hit you in the face with everything. The whole point is drawn out pacing, subtlety, character relationship webs and depth to build to a strong conclusion. It is strongly based on the observations of a Baltimore crime reporter so it is more akin to the mundane happenings of real life where bureaucracy and circumstance often prevent people from affecting real change. It's not for everyone but saying nothing happens makes you seem like one of those modern day conditioned procedural viewers who wants a climax every 43 minutes. It was an extremely nontraditional show airing on a cable network.

Like "Scarface", "The Wire" is one of those things people mention for some kind of mythical streed cred, which resulted in it being wildly overhyped.

Maybe people just like something and don't give a shit if you're impressed or not. By the way Oz went batshit insane after the third season but I kept watching because it was unique television and I didn't care if too many ridiculous things kept happening.